Browsing Pathways

Cardiolipin (CL) is an important component of the inner mitochondrial membrane where it constitutes about 20% of the total lipid composition. It is essential for the optimal function of numerous enzymes that are involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism (Wikipedia). Cardiolipin biosynthesis occurs mainly in the mitochondria, but there also exists an alternative synthesis route for CDP-diacylglycerol that takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum. This second route may supplement this pathway. All membrane-localized enzymes are coloured dark green in the image. First, dihydroxyacetone phosphate (or glycerone phosphate) from glycolysis is used by the cytosolic enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [NAD(+)] to synthesize sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. Second, the mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase esterifies an acyl-group to the sn-1 position of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate to form 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (lysophosphatidic acid or LPA). Third, the enzyme 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase converts LPA into phosphatidic acid (PA or 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) by esterifying an acyl-group to the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone. PA is then transferred to the inner mitochondrial membrane to continue cardiolipin synthesis. Fourth, magnesium-dependent phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase catalyzes the conversion of PA into CDP-diacylglycerol. Fifth, CDP-diacylglycerol--glycerol-3-phosphate 3-phosphatidyltransferase synthesizes phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP). Sixth, phosphatidylglycerophosphatase and protein-tyrosine phosphatase dephosphorylates PGP to form phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Last, cardiolipin synthase catalyzes the synthesis of cardiolipin by transferring a phosphatidyl group from a second CDP-diacylglycerol to PG. It requires a divalent metal cation cofactor.

The process of oxidative phosphorylation involves multiple interactions of ubiquinone with succinic acid, resulting in a fumaric acid and ubiquinol. Ubiquinone interacts with succinic acid through a succinate:quinone oxidoreductase resulting in a fumaric acid an ubiquinol. This enzyme has various cofactors, ferroheme b, 2FE-2S, FAD, and 3Fe-4S iron-sulfur cluster. Then 2 ubiquinol interact with oxygen and 4 hydrogen ion through a cytochrome bd-I terminal oxidase resulting in a 4 hydrogen ion transferred into the periplasmic space, 2 water returned into the cytoplasm and 2 ubiquinone, which stay in the inner membrane. The ubiquinone interacts with succinic acid through a succinate:quinone oxidoreductase resulting in a fumaric acid an ubiquinol. Then 2 ubiquinol interacts with oxygen and 4 hydrogen ion through a cytochrome bd-II terminal oxidase resulting in a 4 hydrogen ion transferred into the periplasmic space, 2 water returned into the cytoplasm and 2 ubiquinone, which stay in the inner membrane. The ubiquinone interacts with succinic acid through a succinate:quinone oxidoreductase resulting in a fumaric acid an ubiquinol. The 2 ubiquinol interact with oxygen and 8 hydrogen ion through a cytochrome bo terminal oxidase resulting in a 8 hydrogen ion transferred into the periplasmic space, 2 water returned into the cytoplasm and 2 ubiquinone, which stays in the inner membrane. The ubiquinone then interacts with 5 hydrogen ion through a NADH dependent ubiquinone oxidoreductase I resulting in NAD, hydrogen ion released into the periplasmic space and an ubiquinol. The ubiquinol is then processed reacting with oxygen, and 4 hydrogen through a ion cytochrome bd-I terminal oxidase resulting in 4 hydrogen ions released into the periplasmic space, 2 water molecules into the cytoplasm and 2 ubiquinones. The ubiquinone then interacts with 5 hydrogen ion through a NADH dependent ubiquinone oxidoreductase I resulting in NAD, hydrogen ion released into the periplasmic space and an ubiquinol. The 2 ubiquinol interact with oxygen and 8 hydrogen ion through a cytochrome bo terminal oxidase resulting in a 8 hydrogen ion transferred into the periplasmic space, 2 water returned into the cytoplasm and 2 ubiquinone, which stays in the inner membrane.

The pathways of the metabolism of phenylalaline begins with the conversion of chorismate to prephenate through a P-protein (chorismate mutase:pheA). Prephenate then interacts with a hydrogen ion through the same previous enzyme resulting in a release of carbon dioxide, water and a phenolpyruvic acid. Three enzymes those enconde by tyrB, aspC and ilvE are involved in catalyzing the third step of these pathways, all three can contribute to the synthesis of phenylalanine: only tyrB and aspC contribute to biosynthesis of tyrosine. Phenolpyruvic acid can also be obtained from a reversivle reaction with ammonia, a reduced acceptor and a D-amino acid dehydrogenase, resulting in a water, an acceptor and a D-phenylalanine, which can be then transported into the periplasmic space by aromatic amino acid exporter. L-phenylalanine also interacts in two reversible reactions, one involved with oxygen through a catalase peroxidase resulting in a carbon dioxide and 2-phenylacetamide. The other reaction involved an interaction with oxygen through a phenylalanine aminotransferase resulting in a oxoglutaric acid and phenylpyruvic acid. L-phenylalanine can be imported into the cytoplasm through an aromatic amino acid:H+ symporter AroP. The compound can also be imported into the periplasmic space through a transporter: L-amino acid efflux transporter.

The metabolism of porphyrin begins with with glutamic acid being processed by an ATP-driven glutamyl-tRNA synthetase by interacting with hydrogen ion and tRNA(Glu), resulting in amo, pyrophosphate and L-glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) Glutamic acid. Glutamic acid can be obtained as a result of L-glutamate metabolism pathway, glutamate / aspartate : H+ symporter GltP, glutamate:sodium symporter or a glutamate / aspartate ABC transporter . L-glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) Glutamic acid interacts with a NADPH glutamyl-tRNA reductase resulting in a NADP, a tRNA(Glu) and a (S)-4-amino-5-oxopentanoate. This compound interacts with a glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminotransferase resulting a 5-aminolevulinic acid. This compound interacts with a porphobilinogen synthase resulting in a hydrogen ion, water and porphobilinogen. The latter compound interacts with water resulting in hydroxymethylbilane synthase resulting in ammonium, and hydroxymethylbilane. Hydroxymethylbilane can either be dehydrated to produce uroporphyrinogen I or interact with a uroporphyrinogen III synthase resulting in a water molecule and a uroporphyrinogen III. Uroporphyrinogen I interacts with hydrogen ion through a uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase resulting in a carbon dioxide and a coproporphyrinogen I Uroporphyrinogen III can be metabolized into precorrin by interacting with a S-adenosylmethionine through a siroheme synthase resulting in hydrogen ion, an s-adenosylhomocysteine and a precorrin-1. On the other hand, Uroporphyrinogen III interacts with hydrogen ion through a uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase resulting in a carbon dioxide and a Coproporphyrinogen III. Precorrin-1 reacts with a S-adenosylmethionine through a siroheme synthase resulting in a S-adenosylhomocysteine and a Precorrin-2. The latter compound is processed by a NAD dependent uroporphyrin III C-methyltransferase [multifunctional] resulting in a NADH and a sirohydrochlorin. This compound then interacts with Fe 2+ uroporphyrin III C-methyltransferase [multifunctional] resulting in a hydrogen ion and a siroheme. The siroheme is then processed in sulfur metabolism pathway. Uroporphyrinogen III can be processed in anaerobic or aerobic condition. Anaerobic: Uroporphyrinogen III interacts with an oxygen molecule, a hydrogen ion through a coproporphyrinogen III oxidase resulting in water, carbon dioxide and protoporphyrinogen IX. The latter compound then interacts with an 3 oxygen molecule through a protoporphyrinogen oxidase resulting in 3 hydrogen peroxide and a Protoporphyrin IX Aerobic: Uroporphyrinogen III reacts with S-adenosylmethionine through a coproporphyrinogen III dehydrogenase resulting in carbon dioxide, 5-deoxyadenosine, L-methionine and protoporphyrinogen IX. The latter compound interacts with a meanquinone through a protoporphyrinogen oxidase resulting in protoporphyrin IX. The protoporphyrin IX interacts with Fe 2+ through a ferrochelatase resulting in a hydrogen ion and a ferroheme b. The ferroheme b can either be incorporated into the oxidative phosphorylation as a cofactor of the enzymes involved in that pathway or it can interact with hydrogen peroxide through a catalase HPII resulting in a heme D. Heme D can then be incorporated into the oxidative phosphyrlation pathway as a cofactor of the enzymes involved in that pathway. Ferroheme b can also interact with water and a farnesyl pyrophosphate through a heme O synthase resulting in a release of pyrophosphate and heme O. Heme O is then incorporated into the Oxidative phosphorylation pathway.

Glycerol metabolism starts with glycerol is introduced into the cytoplasm through a glycerol channel GlpF Glycerol is then phosphorylated through an ATP mediated glycerol kinase resulting in a Glycerol 3-phosphate. This compound can also be obtained through a glycerophosphodiester reacting with water through a glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase or it can also be introduced into the cytoplasm through a glycerol-3-phosphate:phosphate antiporter. Glycerol 3-phosphate is then metabolized into a dihydroxyacetone phosphate in both aerobic or anaerobic conditions. In anaerobic conditions the metabolism is done through the reaction of glycerol 3-phosphate with a menaquinone mediated by a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase protein complex. In aerobic conditions, the metabolism is done through the reaction of glycerol 3-phosphate with ubiquinone mediated by a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [NAD(P]+]. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate is then introduced into the fructose metabolism by turning a dihydroxyacetone into an isomer through a triosephosphate isomerase resulting in a D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate which in turn reacts with a phosphate through a NAD dependent Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase resulting in a glyceric acid 1,3-biphosphate. This compound is desphosphorylated by a phosphoglycerate kinase resulting in a 3-phosphoglyceric acid.This compound in turn can either react with a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate mutase or a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate mutase resulting in a 2-phospho-D-glyceric acid. This compound interacts with an enolase resulting in a phosphoenolpyruvic acid and water. Phosphoenolpyruvic acid can react either through a AMP driven phosphoenoylpyruvate synthase or a ADP driven pyruvate kinase protein complex resulting in a pyruvic acid. Pyruvic acid reacts with CoA through a NAD driven pyruvate dehydrogenase complex resulting in a carbon dioxide and a Acetyl-CoA which gets incorporated into the TCA cycle pathway.

Fructose metabolism begins with the transport of Beta-D-fructofuranose through a fructose PTS permease, resulting in a Beta-D-fructofuranose 1-phosphate. This compound is phosphorylated by an ATP driven 1-phosphofructokinase resulting in a fructose 1,6-biphosphate. This compound can either react with a fructose bisphosphate aldolase class 1 resulting in D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and a dihydroxyacetone phosphate or through a fructose biphosphate aldolase class 2 resulting in a D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. This compound can then either react in a reversible triosephosphate isomerase resulting in a dihydroxyacetone phosphate or react with a phosphate through a NAD dependent Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase resulting in a glyceric acid 1,3-biphosphate. This compound is desphosphorylated by a phosphoglycerate kinase resulting in a 3-phosphoglyceric acid.This compound in turn can either react with a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate mutase or a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate mutase resulting in a 2-phospho-D-glyceric acid. This compound interacts with an enolase resulting in a phosphoenolpyruvic acid and water. Phosphoenolpyruvic acid can react either through a AMP driven phosphoenoylpyruvate synthase or a ADP driven pyruvate kinase protein complex resulting in a pyruvic acid. Pyruvic acid reacts with CoA through a NAD driven pyruvate dehydrogenase complex resulting in a carbon dioxide and a Acetyl-CoA which gets incorporated into the TCA cycle pathway.

The biosynthesis of glutathione starts with the introduction of L-glutamic acid through either a glutamate:sodium symporter, glutamate / aspartate : H+ symporter GltP or a glutamate / aspartate ABC transporter. Once in the cytoplasm, L-glutamice acid reacts with L-cysteine through an ATP glutamate-cysteine ligase resulting in gamma-glutamylcysteine. This compound reacts which Glycine through an ATP driven glutathione synthetase thus catabolizing Glutathione. This compound is metabolized through a spontaneous reaction with an oxidized glutaredoxin resulting in a reduced glutaredoxin and an oxidized glutathione. This compound is reduced by a NADPH glutathione reductase resulting in a glutathione. Glutathione can then be degraded into various different glutathione containing compounds by reacting with a napthalene or Bromobenzene-2,3-oxide through a glutathione S-transferase.

Cardiolipin (CL) is an important component of the inner mitochondrial membrane where it constitutes about 20% of the total lipid composition. It is essential for the optimal function of numerous enzymes that are involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism (Wikipedia). Cardiolipin biosynthesis occurs mainly in the mitochondria, but there also exists an alternative synthesis route for CDP-diacylglycerol that takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum. This second route may supplement this pathway. All membrane-localized enzymes are coloured dark green in the image. First, dihydroxyacetone phosphate (or glycerone phosphate) from glycolysis is used by the cytosolic enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [NAD(+)] to synthesize sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. Second, the mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase esterifies an acyl-group to the sn-1 position of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate to form 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (lysophosphatidic acid or LPA). Third, the enzyme 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase converts LPA into phosphatidic acid (PA or 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) by esterifying an acyl-group to the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone. PA is then transferred to the inner mitochondrial membrane to continue cardiolipin synthesis. Fourth, magnesium-dependent phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase catalyzes the conversion of PA into CDP-diacylglycerol. Fifth, CDP-diacylglycerol--glycerol-3-phosphate 3-phosphatidyltransferase synthesizes phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP). Sixth, phosphatidylglycerophosphatase and protein-tyrosine phosphatase dephosphorylates PGP to form phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Last, cardiolipin synthase catalyzes the synthesis of cardiolipin by transferring a phosphatidyl group from a second CDP-diacylglycerol to PG. It requires a divalent metal cation cofactor.

The pathways of the metabolism of phenylalaline begins with the conversion of chorismate to prephenate through a P-protein (chorismate mutase:pheA). Prephenate then interacts with a hydrogen ion through the same previous enzyme resulting in a release of carbon dioxide, water and a phenolpyruvic acid. Three enzymes those enconde by tyrB, aspC and ilvE are involved in catalyzing the third step of these pathways, all three can contribute to the synthesis of phenylalanine: only tyrB and aspC contribute to biosynthesis of tyrosine. Phenolpyruvic acid can also be obtained from a reversivle reaction with ammonia, a reduced acceptor and a D-amino acid dehydrogenase, resulting in a water, an acceptor and a D-phenylalanine, which can be then transported into the periplasmic space by aromatic amino acid exporter. L-phenylalanine also interacts in two reversible reactions, one involved with oxygen through a catalase peroxidase resulting in a carbon dioxide and 2-phenylacetamide. The other reaction involved an interaction with oxygen through a phenylalanine aminotransferase resulting in a oxoglutaric acid and phenylpyruvic acid. L-phenylalanine can be imported into the cytoplasm through an aromatic amino acid:H+ symporter AroP. The compound can also be imported into the periplasmic space through a transporter: L-amino acid efflux transporter.

The sulfur metabolism pathway starts in three possible ways. The first is the uptake of sulfate through an active transport reaction via a sulfate transport system containing an ATP-binding protein which hydrolyses ATP. Sulfate is converted by the sulfate adenylyltransferase enzymatic complex to adenosine phosphosulfate through the addition of adenine from a molecule of ATP, along with one phosphate group. Adenosine phosphosulfate is further converted to phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate through an ATP hydrolysis and dehydrogenation reaction by the adenylyl-sulfate kinase. Phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate is finally dehydrogenated and converted to sulfite by phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase. This reaction requires magnesium, and adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate is the bi-product. A thioredoxin is also oxidized. Sulfite can also be produced from the dehydrogenation of cyanide along with the conversion of thiosulfate to thiocyanate by the thiosulfate sulfurtransferase enzymatic complex. Sulfite next undergoes a series of reactions that lead to the production of pyruvic acid, which is a precursor for pathways such as gluconeogenesis. The first reaction in this series is the conversion of sulfite to hydrogen sulfide through hygrogenation and the deoxygenation of sulfite to form a water molecule. The reaction is catalyzed by the sulfite reductase [NADPH] flavoprotein alpha and beta components. Siroheme, 4Fe-4S, flavin mononucleotide, and FAD function as cofactors or prosthetic groups. Hydrogen sulfide next undergoes dehydrogenation in a reversible reaction to form L-Cysteine and acetic acid, via the cysteine synthase complex and the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. L-Cysteine is dehydrogenated and converted to 2-aminoacrylic acid (a bronsted acid) and hydrogen sulfide(which may be reused) by a larger enzymatic complex composed of cysteine synthase A/B, protein malY, cystathionine-β-lyase, and tryptophanase, along with the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. 2-aminoacrylic acid isomerizes to 2-iminopropanoate, which along with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion is lastly converted to pyruvic acid and ammonium in a spontaneous fashion. The second possible initial starting point for sulfur metabolism is the import of taurine(an alternate sulfur source) into the cytoplasm via the taurine ABC transporter complex. Taurine, oxoglutaric acid, and oxygen are converted to sulfite by the alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent taurine dioxygenase. Carbon dioxide, succinic acid, and aminoacetaldehyde are bi-products of this reaction. Sulfite next enters pyruvic acid synthesis as already described. The third variant of sulfur metabolism starts with the import of an alkyl sulfate, in this case 1-butanesulfonate, into the cytoplasm via an aliphatic sulfonate ABC transporter complex which hydrolyses ATP. 1-butanesulfonate is dehydrogenated and along with oxygen is converted to sulfite and betaine aldehyde by the FMNH2-dependent alkanesulfonate monooxygenase enzyme. Water and flavin mononucleotide(which is used in a subsequent reaction as a prosthetic group) are also produced. Sulfite is next converted to pyruvic acid by the process already described.